US seizes sanctioned Iranian oil tanker carrying over 1 million barrels

WASHINGTON, May 19: The United States has seized an Iran-linked oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, as tensions escalate following warnings from US President Donald Trump about possible renewed military action against Iran.

Citing three US officials, the report said the tanker, identified as Skywave, was intercepted overnight. The vessel had previously been sanctioned by the United States in March for allegedly transporting Iranian crude oil. Ship-tracking data indicated it was sailing west of Malaysia after passing through the Malacca Strait, reportedly carrying more than one million barrels of crude loaded from Iran’s Kharg Island in February.

The report added that the seizure comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and increased scrutiny of Iran-linked maritime activity in key shipping lanes.

Meanwhile, maritime tracking data from Lloyd’s List indicated a sharp rise in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, with at least 54 vessels transiting between May 11 and May 17, compared to 25 the previous week. The vessels reportedly included China-linked ships, LPG carriers bound for India, and an ADNOC-operated LNG tanker, suggesting continued commercial movement despite ongoing regional tensions.